Set Visit: Elektra (3/3)

This interview session on the set
of the upcoming ELEKTRA is
continued from this
part in which we interviewed and filmmakers
from the film including Jennifer Garner (Elektra), Terence Stamp (Stick),
Goran Visnjic (Mark Miller), producer Gary Foster (DAREDEVIL, GHOST
RIDER) and director Rob Bowman (X-FILES: FIGHT THE FUTURE, REIGN OF
FIRE).

This is when Jennifer Garner joins everyone at the table

Goran Visnjic

Terence Stamp

Rob Bowman

Gary Foster

JENNIFER
GARNER

Q: Jennifer, can you talk a little about your physical
training?

JG: Physically, I got strong before the movie. I stayed in
fairly good shape. I added Pilates into whatever I was doing
everyday, I would come home from Alias and add in an hour of Pilates,
and Im so grateful for that because it added my flexibility back
in, which you lose after a while if you dont specifically do
something for that, Im sure you guys are all very aware of this. (laughter)

And it strengthened my whole core but it wasnt until I got
here and I completely focused on the movie that I felt like it all
came together. That just came from training in the morning, training
after work, training at suppertime and training in the weekends;
its been the same trainer Ive had all through Alias and
through Daredevil, Valerie Waters is her name. She does a variety of
things; shes incredibly good at what she does, but the thing that
sets her apart as far as Im concerned is she does so much to
protect. For instance, shes constantly worrying about protecting
my rotator cuffs, protecting my knees, you know Today we were
doing something so hateful, at four-something this morning and I
said: What is this, what is the purpose of this?I dont usually ask; I usually just do what Im told. And
she said: Well, if you must know, its to protect your hip and
it makes your side kicks stronger.

Other than that though, as far as the fight training has been
concerned, I lo-loved picking up a couple of new weapons, Ive
learned to work with the bow stick, and Ive never claimed to be a
martial artist but I do love, love, love getting to train with the
best and that is what these movies afford me. So Im really
excited about a bow stick fight that I have coming up against five
ninjas and every time we finish one run-through of it its as
though Ive just done a 3-minute sprint interval uphill where I
can tell my face is red and (she makes exaggerated gasping and
breathing sounds to illustrate how taxing it is). Ive been
working on the sais intermittently, most of the sai work is coming
up at the end of the shooting. Ive been doing a lot of punching
because Ive always had a strong kick, weak punch. We ballet
dancers dont grow up punching, we grow up kicking so Ive been
doing a lot of boxing. So that is more than you ever wanted
to know about my training but thats all I do so there it is.

Q: The character is the darkest one youve played so far
even though Sydney has her issues. Can you talk about that, finding
the core of the character?

JG: Well, Elektra is lethal and in Daredevil it was somebody
who was on the verge of being lethal who was surprised to find
herself vulnerable to someone. Once her father is killed, and this
is true in the comic books, and it is in the films as well, there is
no light for her in the world anymore, I think when shes younger
and in college, she kind of has an ideology similar to Matt
Murdocks, she kind of feels like she wants to make the world
better and the second her father is killed everything changes for
her at least this is my, you know, Frank Miller understanding of it,
Im sure you guys know more than I do.

So, everything changes for her and she goes to such an
incredibly dark place, clearly almost dies, is resurrected and when
Stick kicks her out of the only home that she believes she has left
in the world, she uses her skills to become an assassin. And that is
what she is. Shes a mercenary, shes out for blood, she could
care less who you are, what you do, where you come from and I have
to say I love that about her because I feel like she has been driven
to it and shes hiding behind her own soulless-less. She uses it
to isolate her completely and emotionally from the world, and
physically from the world.

And because she is so bad, I think she doesnt get off on
it in like a cool serial killer way, I think its all she has to
survive. This is something that can define her and shes indefinable.
She doesnt have her father, she doesnt have her sensei, she
doesnt have Matt, so, to me, this particular story is about her
not being able to deny her need for her own redemption. And it comes
up and smacks her on the face much like falling for Matt Murdock
did, except I think this is much more of a surprise and its much
more of a twist and its something that she fights a lot harder
than she fought falling for Matt.

Q: Kind of like Jenna Rink (her character in 13 Going On
30), right?

(laughter)

JG: Yes, this character is actually very similar to Jenna
Rink.

Q: So, the transition from taking her from a supporting
character to a lead character, is that an easy one for you in your
head?

JG: Its been a scary one, to be honest. Ive really
missed hiding behind a big red devil. Because I could be his
antithesis and how do you play somebody whos only mission is to
kill and how do you love her for yourself? I wanted to do this movie
because I so love this character and I so love that as much as she
fights against her own re-entry into the world, her heart opening up
after years and years of just being completely closed off, she loses
the battle with herself. And she basically falls for a younger
version of herself - Abby. And ultimately opens herself, at least in
part, although I think the love of her life is Matt Murdock (laughter),
that wasnt nice to say, to Mark.

But just for that shift to take place at all is so huge. Rob
has been the guiding force for me, finding a way to make her whole
and make her hold up scene after scene after scene. And believe me
weve spent a lot of time wondering if shes lethal enough
because my propensity is to, you say cut and I kind of giggle
between takes and I can carry that into what Im doing. And we
say, no, wait, stop, go back and I say: Rob, did I look nice
at all?Yeah,
you know, do it one more time. And so, I feel really lucky to have a
partner in Rob.

Q: You and Goran both have TV shows and youre both
squeezing this into your hiatus. Do you talk about that at all,
compare notes about what its like?

JG: Yeah, of course we do. Its funny because we both refer
to our shows as work. We go: So, when are you going back to
work?As though
were just kind of all hanging out at camp.

RB: Cause thats what it feels like. I think one of the
distinctions, if I could make an observation, outside, as a viewer,
is the distinction between Matt Murdock and Gorans Mark is that
Matt Murdock exists within the world that Elektra operates. Sort of
a comrade, whereas the scary thing and the interesting thing about
Mark is hes very ordinary and setting Elektra into these ordinary
circumstances ironically is a very unnerving, scary thing for her.
She hasno normal. And the contrast between Elektra
and Mark could not make Elektra more uncomfortable. So Goran playing
the good guy down the beach, I dont know, in some ways to me,
maybe because Im directing this movie and I didnt direct
Daredevil, is that Mark is a much more scary 

JG: Oh, without a doubt.

RB: Its a scarier journey for her. Murdocks
sympathetic, I understand how you feel, were both outcasts, you
know  partners in crime. Mark
and Elektra  from opposites ends of the spectrum. Put those
together, how does it make her feel?

JG: Yeah, weve played it that way but shes terrified,
its not that its not there, shes just so freaked out!

RB: Yeah.

Q: Jennifer, can you describe your experience with the
comic book fans of Daredevil and Elektra? Have they been positive
or ?

JG: Im lucky in that if people dont like whats going
on, the color of my costume maybe is as tough as I ever got. People
didnt come up and say: You sucked as Elektra, you
shouldve been Greek- I hate you! They might say that
behind my back but my experiences have been really, really positive
which of course has made me enjoy the world more.

Q: If you could have one superhero power, what would you
choose and why?

JG: The same one Ive always said, have you guys heard me
say it? Metabolism.

Q: Do you have a favorite Elektra story and are there any
elements from that story in the film?

JG: I love when shes at Sticks camp and, shes bald
in the comic book, and she has this huge smile on her face, he calls
her over to him and she says what can I do, Im ready, Im ready
send me on a mission and he says just get out, we dont want you
here. And she is so unaware of the fact that he sees evil in what
she does or harshness or lack of good. She is so crest fallen, you
can see the change of character as she walks away, and for me that
is such a huge turn in her character and we actually have that exact
moment in the movie; although I wont be bald, too hard to
achieve. I also love in Wolverine, Elektra and Wolverine, where
Garrett comes in and it ends up being Mark Miller and

GF: And you kill him!

JG: (laughing) And I kill him right away.

Q: Any update on an Elektra and Wolverine movie?

GF: (laughing) I dont think these universes - I
dont think Avi (the other producer Avi Arad) would allow these
universes to intersect.

JG: (laughing) Can we just please, Im only half-way
done, lets not 

Q: Did you like the experience of doing a romantic comedy,
seeing as you often play these tough and disturbed characters?

JG: Yeah, I think the whole point of being an actor is to do
different things and so far Ive been lucky that I havent been
stuck somewhere. I think probably because thats more how you
would see me but this is more what I became known for originally
thanks to Alias. So its let me bop around at least so far, a
little bit more. I loved that experience but I have to admit there
was a moment last summer where I felt like, um 

Q: Kicking someones ass?

JG: Yeah, I did. I was kind of like and?

(laughter)

Q: Gary mentioned earlier how important it was to get the
red costume right, is that because of fans coming up to you and
mentioning the costume?

JG: Well, its also that, I mean Ive read the comic
books, most of the time shes in red. She does wear the black and
the black is faithful to the comic books, but you know, she is known
for the color red. So yeah, it was important to me and it has been
mentioned to me enough that I knew it was important to the Elektra
fans. Ive never understood how you could physically have those
little flowing sashes that never seem to have even a g-string on the
side and  I wasnt raised that way. (laughter) I am a
comic book hero that wears panties, so I didnt know how to
accomplish that. It is a pretty cool wardrobe. I hope youll be
happy.

GF: With Terence, I mean he could tell you better, he fought
very hard for that traditional, um, you should tell the story
Terence, its something I know you cared a lot about.

TS: Yeah, they didnt want me to wear the hat! You cant
be Stick and not have the hat, you know? So, I got to wear it in
some scenes

Q: Goran and Terence, do have any stories about Jennifer,
something that surprised you about working with her?

GV: The amount of work she does, Im like so jealous that
she can do all those things in a 24-hour day. I would need like a
48-hour day to do everything she does 24 hours. You know working out
and working on the set, its really nice

JG: Thanks, Goran.

Q: Question for Mr. Foster, seeing as the popularity of
comic book movies are at their peak now, do you follow the progress
of all these films coming out every month and sort of hope the wave
strides into next February for Elektra?

GF: Heck yeah. Heck yeah, every day. I mean whether its
following the storylines of whos in, whos out, whos
directing, whos not, tracking the movies, I mean its
important. Its certainly important for us in that this genre has
done well we want it to continue to do well, we care so much and
its going to help our films.

Q: What about a movie like Kill Bill, its another
tortured female heroine, or anti-heroine I guess, I mean, just as
important?

GF: Sure, I think its healthy that our business is
healthy, that people got to movies, whether its comic book
movies, or dramas or romantic comedies 

JG: That they will pay to see a woman headline an action
film, whoever it is and whatever style it is, thats an amazing
thing and they should be celebrated, all of them.

Q: Do you worry though that people will compare this film
to Kill Bill or other comic book movies?

JG: Im sure they will. I welcome it. I think its
fascinating and interesting and theyll have things and well
have things.

Q: Goran, were there any changes to your diet or exercise
regime for the movie?

GV: Nope. I mean I didnt have a beer in a couple of days.
No, no, Im joking, I dont have a lot, just a couple of scenes,
like I told you, throwing garbage cans at bad guys. Jenny is doing
more 

JG: I keep waiting for the man to show up and rescue me and
they finally did today.

Q: Okay, now you guys can talk about Rob, now that hes
left. You can tell us what its like working for him?

JG: Well, the great thing for me is that we both know both
worlds. He can shoot as quickly as a TV director and know what he
needs and see in his mind: Okay, here is the canvas of the
day, this is what I need to get, what is the fastest, most expedient
way to move the camera and get the performances that I want to get
and protect what I need to protect. At the same time, his
mind thinks like the biggest movie director youve ever seen, he
sees shots as though there is nothing involved, no cameras involved
and then finds a way to make it happen. His facility of language
between dealing with the cameras, the DP (Director of Photography)
the action is absolutely met with his ability to talk to me,
one-on-one, take to take. Sometimes Ill say: How was that,
Rob? between takes and hell be like: Well, if I
dont say anything then its fine. And Ill say: No,
its more fun if you come and mess with me about it, you know,
lets fight about it a little bit. And
then he will come up with something that I so subtle and genius and
on the mark and different from what I was doing and Ill say: Ah,
way to go, director! (laughter)

And then I can see him get jazzed. So, we have had a really,
really good time and now were at that magical point in the movie
where he kind of looks at me and I go: Oh, I know, I know,
dont even say it, I got it. And that is what you wish for
with every director and luckily we have it.

GF:I would only interject that Rob has probably one
of the great eyes Ive ever seen from a director. He knows how to
take a shot that can be done very nicely and exactly how you expect
it and make it into something fresh and original. He probably knows
a camera and a lens better than anybody I have ever seen.

JG: Uh-huh.

GF:And he can
move across that line without making it look like hes moved
across the line and he covers scenes better than anybody I have ever
seen either. Its a beautiful film and hes giving all of us
these different angles and options and opportunities to kind of take
moments rather than have to play it all in one big frame and get it
right, you know, on take 20. Hes quite an amazing visualist. And
compassionate, thats the other thing that sort of surprised me.
Not surprising, but its so much deeper than you would see on the
surface.

JG: Hes constantly found heart, or why theres lack of
heart in a scene almost every day and a lot of the time were on
the same page but every now and then he completely takes me by
surprise and it makes what I do so, so, so much more fun and it
makes me so much more willing to jump off a tree for the guy.

Q: Gary, Jennifer, like any film, you have a script that
evolves over when you were first developing it to what you have now,
can you talk about the difference from when you were first
developing it with the first writers and you were presenting it
Jennifer to where its evolved from that?

GF: Its evolved fast, to be totally honest its been a
wild race. We went off to one direction and some of it worked and
some of it didnt, we changed directions close to the finish line
and were racing to try and get ourselves to a place to see if we
were all willing to jump off. We had our moments, but, you know, we
just all out put our heads to it and worked hard, we had great
writers Jennifer, Rob, everybodys contribution to this movie
has been essential to get it to this place and 

JG: But the amazing thing is as crazy as it was figuring out
the direction of it initially, which it was, my fear about it was
that we would spend the whole movie directionless and floating and
making less of this character than I think she deserves. And it has
never for a moment felt that way, once we set our course, we have
followed it and all weve done is streamline and found how to make
it more clean, and more colorful and more about what its about.
And that has been a really wonderful surprise for me.

GF: Yeah, we always, from the beginning, knew we were going
to do this story about her 

JG:Two years ago we
talked about her with the little girl from Wolverine and thats
always been how we were going to find our way in to Elektra.

GF: Exactly.

Q: Can you talk briefly about the other actors and their
characters and how they were cast?

GF: Absolutely, well the little girl, Kirsten Prout, who is
an amazing actress and has just been a joy. We did a big search
actually, we were all over the states and Canada and frankly, L.A.
or New York, we thought wed find somebody there and Kirstens
from here. She came in and auditioned and we were blown away. We
took the tape to Los Angeles to show it to Jennifer 

JG: There I am in my hair and make-up chair for Alias and
they said we have a tape to show you and they showed me this girl
and I was frankly intimidated, she was so good in her audition. I
mean it is something to pull off an audition like that  at 13!
She was amazing and she is amazing.

GF:And then we have the elite team, led by Kirigi,
who is played by Will Yun Lee, who you might now from Die Another
Day, he played one of the North Korean villains, he was in Torque.
Natassia Malthe plays Typhoid Mary, we auditioned a lot of people
for that part too and shes crazy, sexy and fun. Bob Sapp plays
Stone. Bob is known as The Beast, hes one of the great K-1
fighters in the world right now and he cant walk down the streets
in Tokyo without getting mobbed. Hes got 360 pounds, a former
college football/NFL player whos just built an amazing career
with himself. Jason Isaacs has a featured part in the beginning of
the movie, he came up and worked the first few days with us. Also
Cary Tagawa, who plays Roshii, the head of The Hand.

Q: Jennifer, this morning we were watching a scene, I
guess it was the aftermath of the scene where Elektra gets 

JG: Kissed.

Q: kissed by Typhoid Mary. Im wondering what that
was like and when you first read that for the first time what was it
about that scene that hit you?

JG: I love the character of Typhoid Mary. And Rob made it so
amazingly visual, as she walks by, everything dies around her and
theres no question that she has some evil breath. But, Natassia
does not. I have to say its the first time Ive ever kissed a
girl. I didnt object to it, I didnt really think about it that
much either way and when the time came it was just a kiss. Yeah, it
was totally, completely fine. We would just talk about our sisters
or talk about, you know: Oh wait, youve got a hair stuck
her. I think its the only person on screen Ive ever
kissed where Im making sure her lipstick is straight. And then,
they would say action, we would kiss, they would say cut and we
would laugh and wed get on with it, it was nothing 

Q: You were on the ground for what seemed like hours. That
had to be difficult.

JG: You know it was such a welcome change, if I had spent the
whole movie like that Id lose my mind obviously but, trust me,
you saw, that was it.

Q: You werent bored at all?

JG: No, it was such a gorgeous day, and the trees looked
beautiful. No, no, I was ready for a little taste of boredom.

Q: Terence, you were talking about the blindness and the
shooting of certain scenes. Can you talk about that?

TS: So far so good. I mean I did a scene with Jennifer and I
was doing it with my eyes closed and I was worried about whacking
her, you know. Ive had bad scenes with actresses where Ive hit
them with swords and stuff, so I was very happy that was over,
however, Ive heard rumors there may be re-shoots. Its not
sleepless nights, you know, its just something you deal with
everyday as it comes up.

GF: I just want to say that when we realized we were going to
make this movie, Terence was the image that we all had for Stick;
and Avi and I were relentless. We flew into L.A. for some meetings
and we begged for him to stop at our casting office for a half hour
and he did. We were charmed and our passion for having him do this
movie went up 100%. You know, Terence is a legend, Terence is an
amazing actor, but hopefully our passion for him and Robs passion
for the movie and the character was what turned the tide. Personally
for me, its been a pleasure just getting to know the man. He
brings an amazing presence to our film and were grateful.